By Saliu Woru Muhammed
With all sense of humility I wish to start this piece by appreciating God of all creations who has no deputy nor aides, the only Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscience for giving us in this part of the World (Kwara) Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, CFR the incumbent Chief of Staff to our great President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria. “O” Lord we praise You, we commend You and eulogies You for this kind gesture and generosity.
It gladdens our heart that since his assumption of office as the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari has been living up to expectations of his office, thereby proving to be a good ambassador of not only Ilorin Emirate Royalty but a great asset to the entire people of Kwara and beyond.
Dear readers, some people are born great, while others achieve greatness through hard work. From all indications, this gentleman was not only born great but worked to achieve greatness. He could be referred to as a reservoir of knowledge in all human endeavours. He is simple, humble and generous, a man of sound international reputation and character. Right from his youthful days, he has left no one in doubt that he was going to be a great man and leader, through his actions and excellent character.
Born in 1944 in Lanwa Town of Moro Local Government Area of Ilorin Emirate Kwara State, to Mohammed Laufe, the late District Head of Lanwa, Bode Sa’adu and Jebba respectively, the son of Shuaib Bawa, who was the 7th Emir of Ilorin, and Grandfather to the 9th Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Dr. Zulu Karnani Aiye Labowo Gambari CFR, who is the father of the present Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Zulu Kanaini Gambari.”
Young Ibrahim Agboola Gambari right from his early Primary School days in 1951, showed evidence of commitment to achieve sound education, hence, as a result of his brilliance, spent only three years in Primary School and being the best pupil among his peers, he was promoted by the school authority to sit for examination in 1953.
Thus, he spent only 2 years in Malete Primary where he sat for common entrance to secondary school January ,1954 instead of spending seven years.
Thereafter, he proceeded for his secondary education at the Provincial Secondary School (PSS now GSS) Ilorin and later moved to Kings College, Lagos where he bagged “A” with distinction, among his peers. Young Ibrahim Agboola subsequently left Nigeria for London in 1966 where he bagged 1st Cass honour in Economics in 1968. As a result of this intellectual achievement, he was offered a teaching appointment in 1969 at University of New York, he was also a lecturer at the popular University, of Albany from where he was offered another prestigious appointment as a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from 1986 to 1989. He was a visiting Professor at three different Universities in Washington. He later became a researcher fellow at various notable universities through dint of hard work. It is not an overstatement to refer to him as a Doyen of Educational Sector, because so far, he has written so many educative books and publications in reputable journal. A one-time Foreign Affairs Minister between 1984 1985 under Buhari’s military regime, an assignment, which he conducted diligently, having served as Director General Institute of International Affairs (NITA).
Ibrahim was the longest serving ambassador to the United Nations under five heads of state and President. His performance was highly commendable in all areas of international standards.
This diamond son of Ilorin Emirate is a rare colossus. He towers so high like the cedar. All his life he has been putting smiles on the faces of people, changing their development narratives.
The people in Moro, Asa, Ilorin West, East and indeed the entire Ilorin Emirate are witnesses to this testimony of his greatness.
It is this magic wand in you that has made you to excel as Nigeria’s longest serving permanent representative to the United Nations Organization (UNO).
This uncommon ticket of service and good performance in the last one year, is what Nigerians are witnessing as you discharge your duty as Chief of Staff to the Presidency in this very sensitive era, a job you are doing without blemish.
You are a great pride to us your kinsmen, a great pride to us as mentor and as great statesman. We pray the Almighty to continue to deepen your values and worth as you continue your tireless service to humanity and exhibit uncommon patriotism to your fatherland.
My dear readers, this write up won’t be complete, without me appealing to you to give maximum support to the government of our amiable President Muhammadu Buhari, Commander in Chief of the Armed Force of Federal Republic of Nigeria towards solving the precarious society challenges confronting of our country, to achieve this your cooperation with the military and other law enforcement agencies becomes imperative, you have to be extra-vigilant and report any suspicious movement promptly to the police, as no doubt, the security of our nation is the responsibility of all and sundry. Therefore, effort must be made by me and you towards exposing bandits or criminal elements now ravaging our society.
*Mohammed, (Ph.D, PR PGD Journalism, Dip. Criminology)is the Mogaji Nda of Ilorin, Zana of Okuta Emirate and Otun Agba-Akin of Share Land.
